TERENGGANU girls in training for the Malaysia Games Under-21 hockey tournament. The multi-event Games, dubbed as the Malaysian Junior Olympics, begin 30/05/08.

29/05/08

THE Penang State Hockey Association (PSHA) expressed shock when told that its senior vice president S. Sanjilatheeban had resigned as treasurer of the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) with immediate effect.

The reason for the resignation was even more shocking — his application for unrecorded leave to serve at the 2008 Terengganu Malaysia Games was rejected by the Penang Royal Malaysian Customs.

A furious PSHA deputy president, Datuk Mary Ritchie said this was the first time a government department has done this, not approving the unrecorded leave for a government programme.

“How could a government department sabotage and not support a government programme? The Malaysia Games is a National Sports Agenda,” said a visibly distraught Mary.

“All government departments and Government Linked (GLC) Companies should, and must support, the event. It is understandable if the private sector does not support but there is no excuse for government bodies.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has even appealed to the private sector to have a corporate social responsibility, urging them to support government events.

“But here we have the Penang customs department director who thinks otherwise.”

Mary added that the government has been asking Malaysians to do national service but, shockingly, when someone is offering to do the service a government department becomes the stumbling block.

Mary said Sanjilatheeban’s decision to quit is a great loss to the PSHA as he is very hard working and dedicated administrator. In fact he is the first from Penang to be elected to the MHF.

“If necessary, PSHA will write to the prime minister, who is also the finance minister, as the customs department is under the finance ministry.

“We may also meet with Tan Sri Mohamad Nor Yaakob, the Finance Minister II to get his opinion,” said Mary.

“By right the customs department should be proud to have an officer who is also serving the country as a volunteer.”

Sanjilatheeban has been the MHF treasurer since 2004 and is in his second term. He has also been the senior vice president of PSHA since 2000.

When contacted, the customs department director’s office said that its director, Matrang Suhali was on leave.

ALWAYS HAPPY

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Always Somewhere..

Sports Journalist with the New Straits Times since 1994.
My main beat is field hockey, so this blog will have stories that I have written for the NST, as well as hockey news from around the globe. There will be regular updates. I was also the Secretary General of the National Press Club, Malaysia for three terms (six years).